Police Warn of Tainted Heroin After Fatal Overdose

Published Apr 10, 2016 at 10:58 AM

Receive the latest health updates in your inbox

Norwich police say the heroin being distributed in these bags marked with a ladybug is lethal.

Norwich police are warning residents to be on the lookout
for a deadly strain of heroin after a fatal overdose Saturday morning and a second
overdose later in the day.

Police say around 7:47 a.m. they responded to reports of an
unresponsive 18-year-old man. He was later pronounced dead. Police
determined the victim had recently used heroin laced with the compound
Fentanyl.

Around 4:20 p.m. officers responded to another overdose
call. A 21-year-old female victim was transported to William W. Backus Hospital
for treatment and is expected to survive.

Neither victim has been identified at this time.

Police say in both instances the victims used heroin packaged
in white glassine bags with a red ladybug marking stamp. The heroin from both
incidents tested positive for Fentanyl. Police caution the community to be on
the lookout for these marked bags as Fentanyl is a dangerous compound and the
drugs marked with the ladybugs are lethal. Police stress that heroin laced with
Fentanyl is being distributed in other packaging as well and has contributed to
an increase in fatal overdoses in the region.

Police also remind residents that using any illegal drug
or controlled substance can result in death.

Anyone with information about these bags, or any illegal
drugs or narcotics is encouraged to call the Norwich Police Department
anonymous tip line at (860) 886-5561 ext. 500.